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ICE Virginia attorney Tony Pham has been nominated to head immigration agency. |
Ordinarily the selection of Tony Pham to run ICE, infamous in the immigrant communities, would be cause for celebration, but under Donald Trump's direction, the nomination is being viewed with suspicion as a political act.
“When we came to this nation seeking hope and opportunity as refugees, I signed a promissory note to America," says Pham. "I owe a debt for my freedoms and opportunities which must be repaid. I do so by committing to my community as a dutiful citizen and to pass along my experiences and opportunities to serve those around me.”
The Washington Examiner first reported the news on Tuesday. The appointment drew criticism from Asian Americans community advocates.
“It is alarming that Pham, a Southeast Asian refugee, will further expand the Administration’s cruel attacks on Southeast Asian American immigrants. Pham’s identity as a Vietnamese refugee does not help our communities and instead gives the Trump Administration political coverage in their efforts to harm our communities,” said Katrina Dizon Mariategue, acting executive director of SEARAC, Southeast Asian Refugee Action Center.
“Despite a global pandemic, ICE has continued to target immigrant communities, recently deporting 30 Vietnamese Americans. Regardless of leadership, we must defund ICE, end mandatory detention, and stop deportations. SEARAC remains committed to working with our communities to fight the detention and deportation of refugees and immigrants.”
Under the Trump administration, ICE has seen multiple leaders come and go, including Matt Albence, who announced his resignation in July. Albence was never nominated to be the permanent, Senate-confirmed director of the agency, thus was holding position illegally according to critics. Pham will replace current acting Customs and Border Protection commissioner Mark Morgan. Pham will also be an acting director.
Ironically, the former refugee has spent the last few months leading ICE prosecutors, during which the agency has continued to implement Trump's harsh immigration policies under the unforgiving guidance of Stephen Miller, Trump's point man on immigration issues, the Trump administration has gutted the refugee program, cutting the number of refugees allowed to come to the country this year to 18,000, down from the target of 110,000 during the end of the Obama administration.
Pham came to the US as a young boy in 1975 after the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. Ten years later, according to an email he sent to ICE attorneys when he first started, Pham and his family became US citizens. He also emphasized his family had followed the “lawful path to citizenship.”
Pham graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1995 and from the University of Richmond School of Law in 1999. He served as a judicial clerk in the Circuit Court of Henrico County before becoming a prosecutor in the Richmond Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, according to his bio on the ICE website.
In 2008, after eight successful years as a prosecutor, Pham transitioned his litigation skills to the Richmond City Attorney’s Office as the Public Safety attorney where he handled all civil rights litigation on behalf of the City and the police officers. In 2010, Tony was selected by the Honorable C.T. Woody Jr. to serve as the in-house counsel for a Constitutionally elected sheriff. His work entailed providing legal and operational guidance to an organization of 600 full-time employees with an average population of 1,200 inmates.
Pham was recognized for his leadership in the Asian American community when Governor Kaine appointed him to serve on the Virginia Asian Advisory Board in 2010, and later reappointed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell, says the bio.
Recently, Pham served as the Superintendent of the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail managing a $26 million budget and 136 full-time employees. In his new position with ICE, Pham will manage an agency of 20,000 employees scattered over 400 offices across the nation.
The agency has a. troubling reputation as it implements policies that have greatly reduced the number of immigrants, legal and undocumented, coming to this country. ICE still has thousands in custody at the Mexico-US border, including children who have been separated from their parents for years.
“As a seasoned leader with DHS, Tony will ensure ICE continues to safeguard our country’s borders from crime and illegal immigration,” an ICE spokesperson said.
Under the Trump administration, ICE has seen multiple leaders come and go, including Matt Albence, who announced his resignation in July. Albence was never nominated to be the permanent, Senate-confirmed director of the agency, thus was holding position illegally according to critics. Pham will replace current acting Customs and Border Protection commissioner Mark Morgan. Pham will also be an acting director.
Ironically, the former refugee has spent the last few months leading ICE prosecutors, during which the agency has continued to implement Trump's harsh immigration policies under the unforgiving guidance of Stephen Miller, Trump's point man on immigration issues, the Trump administration has gutted the refugee program, cutting the number of refugees allowed to come to the country this year to 18,000, down from the target of 110,000 during the end of the Obama administration.
Pham came to the US as a young boy in 1975 after the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. Ten years later, according to an email he sent to ICE attorneys when he first started, Pham and his family became US citizens. He also emphasized his family had followed the “lawful path to citizenship.”
Pham graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1995 and from the University of Richmond School of Law in 1999. He served as a judicial clerk in the Circuit Court of Henrico County before becoming a prosecutor in the Richmond Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, according to his bio on the ICE website.
In 2008, after eight successful years as a prosecutor, Pham transitioned his litigation skills to the Richmond City Attorney’s Office as the Public Safety attorney where he handled all civil rights litigation on behalf of the City and the police officers. In 2010, Tony was selected by the Honorable C.T. Woody Jr. to serve as the in-house counsel for a Constitutionally elected sheriff. His work entailed providing legal and operational guidance to an organization of 600 full-time employees with an average population of 1,200 inmates.
Pham was recognized for his leadership in the Asian American community when Governor Kaine appointed him to serve on the Virginia Asian Advisory Board in 2010, and later reappointed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell, says the bio.
Recently, Pham served as the Superintendent of the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail managing a $26 million budget and 136 full-time employees. In his new position with ICE, Pham will manage an agency of 20,000 employees scattered over 400 offices across the nation.
The agency has a. troubling reputation as it implements policies that have greatly reduced the number of immigrants, legal and undocumented, coming to this country. ICE still has thousands in custody at the Mexico-US border, including children who have been separated from their parents for years.
“As a seasoned leader with DHS, Tony will ensure ICE continues to safeguard our country’s borders from crime and illegal immigration,” an ICE spokesperson said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A word of caution, this is news sprinkled with opinion. Readers are encouraged to seek multiple news sources to formulate their own positions.
UPDATED: 3 P.M., Aug. 26 to include comments from SEARAC.
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